Gabrielatos, C. (2003). Conditional Sentences: ELT typology and corpus evidence. Paper given at the Annual Meeting of the British Association for Applied Linguistics, University of Leeds, 4-6 September 2003.
Conditional Sentences: ELT typology and corpus evidence
Abstract
This paper presents the findings of a pilot study examining the representation of the typology of conditional sentences presented in English language teaching (ELT) materials (coursebooks and grammars) in a random sample of 1,000 conditional sentences from the British National Corpus. The if-clause and main clause of the conditional sentences in the sample was annotated for the form of the main verb (particularly tense and aspect), the modal auxiliaries and other lexis expressing modality, time reference and modality. Each sentence was also annotated for the type of relation holding between the two clauses, as well as their relative time reference.
ELT materials essentially use the typology in logic (real, counterfactual and hypothetical conditionals), with the addition of two more types, zero and mixed . The vast majority of ELT materials provide information about the
following aspects of conditional sentences:
a. The tense-aspect marking of the main verbs in the if-clause and main clause.
b. The modal auxiliaries that can be used in each clause. c. The time reference of the conditional sentence (not of each clause). d. The user s attitude towards possibility.
Maule (1988) examined 100 conditional sentences collected from television and found that there was a large group of sentences that could not fit in the framework of the 3 types. The study supports this finding, but also points towards the need to adapt the typology and information offered in ELT materials.
The paper reports on the frequency of the five ELT types in the sample and outlines the cases that the typology does not cover. It also presents some preliminary findings regarding patterns in tense marking and modal expression on one hand, and time reference and modality on the other, briefly discusses implications for a pedagogical treatment of conditionals and proposes a tentative adaptation of the ELT typology.
Reference
Maule, D. 1988. Sorry, but if he comes I go : Teaching conditionals. ELT Journal 42/2.
Conditional Sentences: ELT typology and corpus evidence
Costas Gabrielatos, September 2003
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Slide 1
BAAL 2003BAAL 2003September 4September 4--6, 20036, 2003
Conditional Sentences: Conditional Sentences:
ELT typology and corpus evidenceELT typology and corpus evidence
Costas GabrielatosCostas Gabrielatos
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FocusFocus
The frequency of the types of conditional sentences The frequency of the types of conditional sentences usually presented in ELT materials (Zero, First, Second, usually presented in ELT materials (Zero, First, Second, Third and Mixed).Third and Mixed).
The relative frequency of the ELT types in the sample.The relative frequency of the ELT types in the sample.
The frequency of The frequency of special casesspecial cases in the treatment of in the treatment of conditionals in ELT materials.conditionals in ELT materials.
The frequency of modality types and modal verbs/lexis in The frequency of modality types and modal verbs/lexis in the conditional sentences in the sample.the conditional sentences in the sample.
Slide 3
Ferguson, G. (2001) Ferguson, G. (2001) If you pop over there: a corpusIf you pop over there: a corpus--based study ofbased study ofconditionals in medical discourseconditionals in medical discourse . English for Specific. English for SpecificPurposes. Purposes. 20: 6120: 61--82.82.
FulcherFulcher, G. (1991) 'Conditionals Revisited, G. (1991) 'Conditionals Revisited , , ELT Journal, ELT Journal, 45/2: 16445/2: 164--168.168.
MauleMaule, D. (1988) '"Sorry, but if he comes, I go": Teaching conditiona, D. (1988) '"Sorry, but if he comes, I go": Teaching conditionals.ls.ELT Journal. ELT Journal. 42/2: 11742/2: 117--123.123.
Wang, S. (1991) Wang, S. (1991) A Corpus Study of English ConditionalsA Corpus Study of English Conditionals . Unpublished MA. Unpublished MAthesis. Victoria University of Wellington.thesis. Victoria University of Wellington.
CorpusCorpus--based studies on conditional sentences in based studies on conditional sentences in English, discussing pedagogical implicationsEnglish, discussing pedagogical implications
Conditional Sentences: ELT typology and corpus evidence
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The sampleThe sample
Random sample of 1,000 Random sample of 1,000 ifif sentences from sentences from the written subthe written sub--corpus of the BNC.corpus of the BNC.
Slide 5
Structure of the paperStructure of the paper
ELT Typology: description and approachELT Typology: description and approach
Annotation schemeAnnotation scheme
Findings and discussionFindings and discussion
Further stepsFurther steps
Slide 6
ELT typologyELT typology
MainClause
If-clause
Meaning(Modality)
Time Reference
Verb Forms (tenses and modals)
Conditional Sentences: ELT typology and corpus evidence
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Three basic implicit assumptions Three basic implicit assumptions behind the behind the three/five typesthree/five types approachapproach
There are oneThere are one--toto--one formone form--meaning relations.meaning relations.
Modality is expressed by modal verbs only. Modality is expressed by modal verbs only.
Conditional sentences express only attitude to Conditional sentences express only attitude to likelihood.likelihood.
Slide 8
Acklam, R. & Burgess, S. (2000, 2nd Ed.) Gold FCE. London: Longman.Capel, A. & W. Sharp. (2000) Objective First Certificate. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press.Capel, A. & Sharp, W. (2002) Objective Proficiency. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press.Duckworth, M. & Gude, K. (1999) Countdown to FCE. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Evans, V. & Dooley, J. (2002) Upstream Intermediate. Newbury: Express Publishing.Evans, V. & Dooley, J. (2002) Upstream CPE. Newbury: Express Publishing.Gude, K. & Duckworth, M. (2002) Masterclass CPE. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Haines, S. & Stewart, B. (2000) Landmark Upper-Intermediate. Oxford: Oxford University
Press.Harris, M., Mower, D. & Sikorzynska, A. (2000) Opportunities Intermediate. London:
Longman.Newbrook, J. & Wilson, J. (2001) New Gold CPE. London: Longman.May, P. 1999. Knockout First Certificate, Student s Book. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Nolasco, R. (2000) New Streetwise Upper Intermediate. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Prodromou, L. 1998. First Certificate Star, Student s Book. Heinemann.Soars, L. & Soars, J. (1998) New Headway Upper-Intermediate. Oxford: Oxford University
Press.Stanton, A. & Stephens, M. (2001) Fast Track to FCE. London: Longman.
Coursebooks examined
Slide 9
First conditionalFirst conditional
Possible, probable.Possible future events that depend on other future events.
present or
future
will, can, may, could, might+ infinitiveImperative
Present Simple,Present Perfect,PresentProgressive
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Second conditionalSecond conditional
Less probable, less definite, impossible, unreal, imaginary, unlikely situations
present or
future
would, could, might+ infinitive
Past Simple, PastProgressive
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Third conditionalThird conditional
UnrealNo longer possible
past
would, could, might, should + have + past participle
Past PerfectProgressive
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Zero conditionalZero conditional
Expresses real situations.Is always true/ the case.Describes rules and situations where one event always follows the other.Expresses eternal truths.We use it to say what always happens.
present or
future
Present SimpleImperative
Present Simple,Present Perfect,PresentProgressive
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Mixed conditionalMixed conditional
Change in present situation would affect past situation
would, could, might, should+ have + past participle
PastSimple
Change in past situation would affect present situationLinks
past and
present
would, could, might, should+ infinitive
Past Perfect
Slide 14
Special casesSpecial cases
Modals in the Modals in the ifif-- clauseclause
willwill (= insistence, willingness)(= insistence, willingness)wouldwould (= request)(= request)shouldshould (= politeness)(= politeness)couldcouldare toare to
Open conditions in the past Open conditions in the past (Past (Past Past)Past)
Slide 15
AnnotationAnnotation
Conditional?Conditional?Tense and aspect markingTense and aspect markingTime referenceTime referenceModalityModalityModalsModalsLevel of inclusiveness of ELT typologiesLevel of inclusiveness of ELT typologies
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Not ConditionalNot Conditional
WHETHER
He finished his beer sadly, wondered if he would have been better off, after all, among them at the club.
ALTHOUGH
Even in his anger and growing fear, the conditioning of his background and breeding rose, if only briefly, above his Pres distress.
EVEN THOUGH
It was a 35mm affair even if a rather simplified one with a built-in flash.
AS THOUGH
As if in protest, George uttered a blood-curdling, lunatic-sounding cackle, and fell fractionally forward.
Slide 17
Frequency of conditional sentencesFrequency of conditional sentences
85.3%
14.2%
.5%
Conditional
Not conditional
Misc excluded
Slide 18
ELT three/five types typology: ELT three/five types typology: Different levels of inclusivenessDifferent levels of inclusiveness
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Modal in ZeroPresent in First
Addition of sentences with features of both Zero and First
Could and might in First.Rest of Root modals in First, Second, Third and Mixed Both Epistemic and Root marking
Modal lexisPerfect aspect in Zero and Firsttypes
Five types, extended. Elements consistent with the existing typology.
All core Epistemic modals in First, Second, Third, MixedImperative in Zero and FirstShould in Third and Mixed
Progressive aspectPerfect aspect in Zero and First
Five types, inclusive. Elements presented in any of the books examined.
Present Simple in ZeroWould in Mixed
Simple tenses
Five types, common.Only the elements that are common to all accounts .First type of Mixed only
Will in FirstWould in Second and Third
Simple tensesThree types, basic.
As in logic.
Main clauseIf-clauseDescription
Slide 20
Breakdown of conditional sentences in the sample
710.0 / 83.2%
5.0 / .6%
94.0 / 11.0%
13.0 / 1.5%
31.0 / 3.6%
Sample for ELT
Fixed/Idiomatic
Elliptical
Embedded
'even in case'
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Even ifEven if = even in case= even in case
EvenEven ifif parents succeed in coming to terms parents succeed in coming to terms with letting their children go, their best with letting their children go, their best efforts are likely to be undermined by the efforts are likely to be undermined by the "dirty washing" gambit, or proprietorial "dirty washing" gambit, or proprietorial claims to "my room" which the child will claims to "my room" which the child will not relinquish. not relinquish.
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EllipsisEllipsis
Most directors would like to keep the company's business Most directors would like to keep the company's business premises free from further encumbrances premises free from further encumbrances ifif at all at all possible. possible.
A SCIENTIFIC laser unit has been stolen from Telford College in Edinburgh and police have given warning the equipment could be dangerous if mishandled.
Abdomen: When to seek advice
Urgently, Right now!
If the stool is bloody, black or tar-like.
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EmbeddedEmbedded
IF YOU won the pools, it's a cert you'd celebrate with a slap-up party for friends -- and that's how we're winding up our great series of free contests.
They themselves might suffer from the climate, but if they managed to survive and interbreed the chances are that in a few generations their offspring would have reverted to wild-type coats once again, as a result of the inevitable mixing that would occur among the stray cat colonies.
Slide 24
IdiomaticIdiomatic
They were following the perimeter of the cricket ground in full view of at least twenty-two other boys, and Richard was damned if he was going to trail in Murray's wake before this audience.
He's not a bad sort, for a brother if you know what I mean"
And that is why I'll see Greg Martin if it's the last thing I do."
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78.5%53.8%43.6%29.3%14.9%
557382310208106
1111114NAMixed
2929291918Third
9090775748Second
119804140First427
13311387NAZero
Extended with 0+1
ExtendedInclusiveCommonBasic
Slide 26
Frequency (%) of ELT typologyFrequency (%) of ELT typology
ELT-5 Extended + 01
ELT-5 Extended
ELT-5 Inclusive
ELT-5 Common
ELT Basic (3 types)
Per
cent
of C
S in
the
sam
ple
100
80
60
40
20
0
78
54
44
29
15
Slide 27
ELT Basic: FrequencyELT Basic: Frequency
2.5%
6.8%
5.6%
85.1%
Third
Second
First
Not covered
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ELTELT--5 Inclusive: Frequency5 Inclusive: Frequency
56.3%
1.5%
4.1%
10.8%
11.3%
15.9%
Not covered
Mixed
Third
Second
First
Zero
Slide 29
ELT-5 Inclusive: Distribution of types
3.5%
9.4%
24.8%
25.8%
36.5%
Mixed
Third
Second
First
Zero
Slide 30
Breakdown of CS not covered by ELT-5 Inclusive
72.0 / 18.0%
153.0 / 38.2%
175.0 / 43.8%
Extended-additional
Other cases
Zero/First blend
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Sentences with features of both Zero and FirstSentences with features of both Zero and First
"If you think I'd dream of sharing so much as a blanket with you after that you're crazy!
If a Troll suffers harm his flesh will almost instantly re-grow.
If Bridges is right, this still does not avoid possible legal argument over the "reasonableness" of the contract between purchaser and provider, nor over how well contracts are complied with.
Slide 32
ELT-5 Extended, with 'Zero' and 'First' collapsed: Frequency
1.6%
4.2%
11.0%
22.0%
61.3%
Mixed
Third
Second
Not covered
Zero+First collapsed
Slide 33
Mood and Modality in the main clauseMood and Modality in the main clause
100%7100.3%2Present Subjunctive
1.8%13Question
1.8%13Ambiguous modality
3.0%21Epistemic + Root
17.3%123Root
24.1%171Statement
51.7%367Epistemic
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Epistemic modality in the main clauseEpistemic modality in the main clause
100%51.7%367TotalTotal
3.0%1.5%11Probability
4.4%2.3%16Combinations
5.5%2.8%20Ability
37.0%19.1%136Possibility
50.1%25.9%184Certainty
% of Epistemic
% of all CS
Frequency
Slide 35
Modal expressions in the main clauseModal expressions in the main clause
73.7%523TOTAL
0.6%4Central modals in that-clauses
2.2%16Marginal etc. modals
4.2%30Other modal expressions
4.5%32Combinations with central modals
6.8%49Imperative
55.1%392Central modals
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Central Modals in the main clauseCentral Modals in the main clause
59.6%42455.1%392TotalTotal
1.0%71.0%7shall
3.7%263.7%26must
3.8%273.7%26should
3.8%272.9%21might
4.0%294.1%29could
6.0%435.5%39may
6.6%476.5%46can
13.0%9211.7%83will
17.7%12616.2%115would
Including combinationsModal + lexical verb
only
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CoCo--occurrence of modalitiesoccurrence of modalities
The Home Secretary will no doubt give his consent, ifotherwise the decisions of junior ministers are liable to be quashed on judicial review.
Conversely if the definition changed, there would probably be a corresponding change in the pupil's actions in that context.
Companies potentially need to acquire information about all the environmental factors shown in the diagram, if they are to survive and prosper.
Slide 38
Root modality in main clauseRoot modality in main clause
100%17.3%123
8.2%1.4%10Volition
91.8%15.9%113Deontic
% of Root
% of all CS
Frequency
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Modal expressions in the Modal expressions in the ifif--clauseclause
17.1%122Total
1.0%7Semi-auxiliaries
3.2%23Other expressions
4.9%35Modal idioms
8.0%57Central modals
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Central modals in the Central modals in the ifif--clauseclause
57Total
1shall
1might
1may
2will
3would
3should
5must
15could
26can
Slide 41
Modal idioms in the ifModal idioms in the if--clauseclause
35Total
1would rather
4have to
30be to
7Total
1be willing to
1be likely to
5be going to
SemiSemi--auxiliaries in the ifauxiliaries in the if--clauseclause
Slide 42
The three most frequent modal expressions The three most frequent modal expressions in the in the ifif--clauseclause
60.2%60.2%10.0%10.0%7171TotalTotal14.3%14.3%2.1%2.1%1515couldcould
21.3%21.3%3.7%3.7%2626cancan
24.6%24.6%4.2%4.2%3030be tobe to
% of modals % of modals in ifin if--clause clause (N=122)(N=122)
% of sample % of sample (N=710)(N=710)FrequencyFrequencyModal Modal
expressionexpression
It is interesting that whereas the Third and Mixed patterns, with a frequency of 4.2% and 1.6% respectively, are presented as part of the main ELT framework, the use of be to and could in the if-clause, which have comparable, if not higher frequencies, are treated as special cases, with cannot even mentioned.
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Past tense in Past tense in ifif--clause referring to past timeclause referring to past time(32.2% of (32.2% of IfIf + Past tense+ Past tense occurrences)occurrences)
The students had no room in which to wait between lectures, but it was suggested to MRCVS that students who lodged near enough might go home if they wanted to, or more usefully spend their non-lecture time in the dissecting room or in the stables, although the Bell & Crown inn, with a good fire, was close at hand.
After a decade of being made to feel that you were somehow lacking as a person if you didn't manage to cram thrice-weekly workouts into your schedule, it was high time that a good reason not to exercise emerged.
"That little mistake was corrected when you got my note this morning, as you know very well!" Kate raised her eyebrows. "I received no note from you this morning, or any other time!" "Don't strain my credulity again! She couldn't help the tinge of pink that flooded her cheeks at his expression as those blue eyes studied her with contempt. "Well, if you didn't put it under my door yourself, maybe you'd better just check with Reception downstairs."
I think that the high frequency of If + Past tense with past reference qualifies it to be included in the main ELT typology, rather than treated as a special case.
Slide 44
Further researchFurther research
Analysis of sample from the spoken subAnalysis of sample from the spoken sub--corpus of the BNC.corpus of the BNC.
Examination of the distribution of ELT Examination of the distribution of ELT types according to genre.types according to genre.
Examination of a larger sample of elliptical Examination of a larger sample of elliptical conditional sentences.conditional sentences.
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